Piercing valve



W. J. HAMEL PIERCING VALVE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR MILL/AM JJ-IAMELATTOR EY 3,395,724 PIERCHNG VALVE Wiliiam J. Hamel, St. Albans, W. Va.,assignor to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York FiledOct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,012 2 Claims. (Cl. 137318) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A piercing valve is described in this application whichconstitutes an improvement on the so-called vise grip. Two relativelythick body portions are attached to the jaws of a wrench such as thatdescribed in US. Patent 2,514,130. Each body portion contains oppositelysituated transverse grooves so as to define an enclosure for a tubingwhen the jaws are in grip position. The upper body portion is providedwith a housing having a hollow vertical section and a lateralpassageway. Furthermore, it also contains a solid vertical memberextending through the hollow section, which solid member has a lowerneedle-like construction and an upper end which is pivot-ally connectedto a depressible handle adapted to axially depress the solid member sothat the needle-like end pierces the tubing.

This invention relates to valves and particularly to a piercing valve.It is more particularly related to a specially constructed piericngvalve which can be employed for the withdrawal of fluids from containersor alternatively for charging vessels and containers with fluids. Thespecially constructed valve described herein will hereafter he referredto as a piercing value.

In the refrigeration and air conditioning field it is frequentlynecessary to repair the hermetically sealed units of the refrigerator orair conditioning system. However, before such repairs can be made, thefluid (refrigerant) must be evacuated from the hermetically sealed unit.Since most refrigerants vaporize at atmospheric conditions, it isextremely difficult to evacuate these units without losing therefrigerant or without the inconvenience, and sometimes even danger,which may result from their loss or vaporization. After these units havebeen repaired, they must of course, be filled again with the same ordifferent refrigerant. Therefore, it can be appreciated that it isextremely desirable to be able to withdraw or fill such hermeticallysealed units with fluids or refrigerants without the attendant lossesand dangers.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a speciallyconstructed valve which can be employed for the withdrawal of fluidsfrom containers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a speciallyconstructed valve which can be employed for filling vessels andcontainers from an outside source.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a speciallyconstructed valve for the withdrawal of fluids (refrigerants) fromhermetically sealed units of refrigerators and air conditioning units.

It is another specific object of this invention to provide a speciallyconstructed valve which can be employed for filling such hermeticallysealed units with fluids from an outside source.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the invention taken in connection withthe drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly sectional, of the piercing valveillustrating the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is also a side view, partly sectional, of the piercing valve ofthis invention in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the flat surface attached 3,395,724 PatentedAug. 6, 1968 to the upper jaw of the pliers as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,and

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the flat surface which is attached to thelower jaw of the pliers as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a locking wrench or pliers ofthe general construction shown and described in US. 2,280,005 and US.2,514,130 which comprises preferably a pair of pipe wrench-like jaws 1and 2 transversely pivoted together at 3 and with one of the plier-likehandles 4 extending rigidly from jaw 1, while the other handle 5 istransversely pivoted at its inner end as at 6 to a rearward extension 7of the other jaw 2.

Both handles '4 and 5 are preferably of more or less hollow channel orU-shape in cross section arranged in confronting relation as indicated,and a coiled tension spring 8 hooked at one end as at 9 through anopening near the center of the fixed handle 4 and at its other end orforward end to a small aperturcd lug 10 on jaw 2 tends to resilientlypull the jaws open.

Within the confronting hollow handles is a lever 11 cooperating withhandle 5 to form a pair of toggle levers. Lever 11 normally extends atan angle between handles 4 and 5 with its opposite ends positionedrespectively within the channels of the two handles and with its forwardend transversely pivoted as at 12 to handle 5 and its opposite or outerend transversely pivoted to the inner end of an adjusting screw 13longitudinally screwed into the outer end of handle 4 which is madetubular for a distance adjacent the end.

The pivotal connection of toggle lever 11 to the screw is as shown inFIGURE 1 of US. 2,514,130. It comprises a hole longitudinally in theinner end of the screw 13 and revolvably fitting therein a pin 14 havingan enlarged head or block 15 at the end against which the end of theScrew bears. This head is of a size and form to fit within the channelof the handle so as to be slideable therealong and in contact with theunderside of the channel as at 18 as the screw is turned.

The head 15 of the pin 14 is flattened at opposite sides and istransversely pivoted to the end of the lever as by a pin 16, the end ofthe lever being shown bifurcated at 17 to straddle opposite flat sidesof the head 15, or the head may be bifurcated and the end of the leversolid if desired.

The toggle lever 11 is provided with a foot 19 at an intermediate pointin its length which is directed into the channel of the lower handle 5to rest upon a releasing lever 20 which is preferably of sheet metal ofgenerally U-shaped cross section to easily fit within the handle and iskept in place by a transversely extending pin 21 secured to thesidewalls of handle 5 and working freely in a slot 22 in the sidewalls23 of the releasing lever. The lever extends forward of this pin arelatively short distance So that its forward end 24 pivots or fulcrumsagainst the foot 19 when the outer or rearward end 25 of the releasinglever is lifted or pulled toward handle 4. When engaging an objectbetween the jaws 1 and 2, the grip may be instantly released at any timeby pressing down the releasing lever 20.

laws 1 and 2 are each rigidly attached to a flat surface, preferably arelatively thick body portion such as blocks 27 and 29. The lowersurface of upper block 27 and the upper surface of lower block 29 eachcontain a semi-circular transverse recessed section or groove 31 withlateral enlargements 33 which is adapted to receive a resilient circularmember 35. The recessed sections 31 are situated so that, when blocks 27and 29 are pressed toward one another by the gripping action of theplier-like handles, they define an enclosure for a tubular member aswill be hereafter apparent from further description of this invention.

Upper block 27 is integrally attached to a housing 37 having a laterallyextending upper section 39. A depressible handle 41 is pivotallyattached to the laterally extending section of the housing through apivot pin 43. The handle 41 is of the same general construction ashandles 4 and 5, i.e., a generally hollow channel or U-shape in crosssection.

A hollow vertical section 45 extends partially through housing 37. Apassageway 47 extends laterally from the hollow vertical section througha connecting means 49 which is preferably integrally attached to theside of the housing as shown in FIGURE 1 and is adapted to be connectedthrough a tubing 51 to a pump or a receiving vessel not shown in thedrawings.

Extending through the hollow vertical section 45 is a solid verticalsection 51 with sharply pointed lower end 53 which is adapted to piercea tubing or a relatively thin pipe. The upper end 55 of the solidvertical section 45 is in contact with the inner walls of depressiblehandle 41 and is adapted to be raised or lowered by raising ordepressing this handle. The solid vertical section 51 is raised orlowered by a transverse pin which is passed through the solid verticalsection and extend into a pair or apertures 57 in the depressiblehandle. Sealing means 59 such as for example a resilient O-ringencircles the solid vertical section 51 and provides an effective sealafter the tubing has been punctured.

The operation of the wrench or plier is essentially as described in theaforementioned US. 2,514,130. The screw 13 may be longitudinally movedby turning its head 13 to adjust the position of the jaws so that theblocks 27 and 29 are in contact with one another and assume the positionshown in FIGURE 1. The tubing to be pierced is gripped between blocks 27and 29 by pressing the plierlike handles toward one another so thattoggle lever 11 straighten out through a line drawn through the centersof pins 6, 12 and 16 to thereby develop a strong grip.

With the tubing (which is connected to a fluid-containing vessel)gripped in position, depressible handle 41 is lowered and pressed downuntil the tubing is pierced by the sharp needle-like point 53. Thedepressible handle is then raised and the fluid is withdrawn through thepassageways 45 and 47 which communicate with a vacuum pump or any othersuitable device for withdrawing the fluid.

When the job is completed, the locked toggle grip may be easily releasedby either pressing downward or pulling upward on the outer end 25 ofreleasing lever 20 which upon being rocked either way will forcibly movehandle slightly outward from foot 19 to carry the center of pin 12 backover the center line of the toggle lever 11 so that the toggle willcollapse under the effect of spring 8 as well as from the pressure ofthe work tending to spread the jaws, and the wrench will at once open.The tubing may then be crimped at a point downstream of the puncturepoint to seal off the vessel.

The procedure for filling vessels is essentially the same as describedabove. However tubing 51 in this case is connected to an ordinary chargepump or fluid source and the flow of fluid is merely reversed.

The depressible handle in both cases (evacuating or filling) can bemanually operated to control the rate of flow of fluid charge ordischarge. This aspect provides a convenient tool for regulating theflow rate of the fluid withdrawn from or charged to a vessel.

Although the invention has heretofore been described with a certaindegree of particularity and conciseness, it is understood that severalalternatives and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art inthe light of the present disclosure. These alternatives andmodifications are within the purview and scope of this invention. Forexample, the plier-like construction can be substituted with any meanswhich could provide the cooperative action between the metal surfaces sothat the upper block can be mounted on the lower block and therebydefine the enclosure for the tubing. These blocks may be held togetherby a C-clamp or any other suitable device. It can be appreciatedhowever, that the special construction shown in the present drawingsdefine a more practical and convenient tool for the intended purpose.Furthermore, blocks 27 and 29 can be metallic, plastic or woodenmaterial with sutficient strength to withstand the pressure created bythe gripping action of the pliers. These blocks may have difierentconstruction from those shown in the present drawings so long as theyprovide an enclosure for a tubular member when they are pressedtogether.

What is claimed is:

1. A piercing valve comprising, in combination, a lower relatively thickbody portion having a fiat surface with a transverse groove; an upperrelatively thick body portion having a flat surface with a transversegroove opposite the groove in said lower flat surface so as to define anenclosure therewith when said upper body portion is mounted on saidlower body portion; means for maintaining said two body portions incontact with one another; a housing fixedly attached to said upper bodyportion, said housing having a hollow vertical section partiallyextending therethrough, a connection means integrally attached theretoat one side and a lateral passageway communicating at one end with saidhollow vertical section and extending through said connection means atthe other end; a depressible handle pivotally attached to said housing;a solid vertical member extending through said vertical hollow section,said solid vertical member having a lower needle-like end and an upperend pivotally connected to said depressible handle and adapted to be'axially biased by said depressible handle.

2. A piercing valve comprising, in combination, a Wrench which comprisesa handle provided with a stationary jaw, movable jaw adapted forcoaction with said stationary jaw, a toggle comprising a channel-shaperhandle lever pivotally engaged at one end with said movable jaw and atoggle link pivotally engaged at one end in the channel of said handlelever intermediate its ends and at its other end with said handle; arelatively thick first body portion attached to said movable jaw, saidfirst body portion having a flat surface with a transverse groove; arelatively thick second body portion attached to said statinoary jaw,said second body portion having a flat surface and a transverse grooveopposite the groove in the flat surface of said first body portion so asto define an enclosure when said two flat surfaces are in contact withone another; a housing fixedly attached to said first body portion, saidhousing having a hollow vertical section partially extendingtherethrough, a connection means integrally attached thereto at one sideand a lateral passageway communicating at one end with said hollowvertical section and extending through said connection means at theother end; a depressible handle pivotally attached to said housing; asolid vertical member extending through said vertical hollow section,said solid vertical member having a lower needle-like end and an upperend pivotally connected to said depressible handle and adapted to beaxially biased by said depressible handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,130 7/1950 Jones "81-3703,198,206 8/1965 OBrien 137318 X FOREIGN PATENTS 318,688 7/ 1902 France.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. D. R. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner.

